So many folks get into a situation one day, where they spill something on their beautiful carpet or rug and start to search on their phone for some tips on how to clean that unsightly wine or coffee stain. Well, this search game can be pretty straightforward until you get to the point that the wine removal stain advice has been meant for synthetic carpets only, while your rug is made of natural material, say, jute. Ah!
This is where our post will come in handy to the extent of bookmarking it right away because you are about to read everything that there is to know about cleaning carpets. After all, there are so many popular types of carpeting in Australia – from tufted, modular or woven rugs to shag (deep pile) and short pile floor coverings, which can be made from both natural and synthetic materials… And there are so many questions that can arise when it comes to cleaning them, be it how to remove a specific stain, how long the rug will take to dry and so on.
So, let’s get started with our complete carpet cleaning guide! Read on, especially if:
There are different carpet cleaning methods, as well as stain removal techniques, which are suitable to use on one type of rug and not so much on another. This is because, as we mentioned earlier, carpetings can be made of different sturdy or delicate materials (natural, synthetic or mixed fibres); have specific appearance and style, etc. So, let’s have a look at how to clean various types of carpets and rugs!
Nylon carpets are rather popular, due to their stain-resistant properties. This means that maintaining them clean won’t prove that hard. Also, the beauty about nylon carpets is that they can “handle” most professional cleaning methods, such as steam cleaning, hot water extraction cleaning, as well as cleaning your carpeting with foam and dry cleaning agents. Regular vacuuming is often recommended if you don’t want it to look tired and on the dull side.
When it comes to removing various types of stains from your nylon carpet, there is a range of products and natural substances that you can use safely and effectively.
Now then, here are some general tips on how to clean nylon carpets.
What you need:
Instructions to clean a nylon carpet:
Try to clean your nylon carpet professionally at least once every two years and for best results, ensure the job is done with hot water extraction equipment.
Nylon carpets’ stain-resistance can be compromised if you use cleaning agents that are too alkaline, like baking soda (pH 8-9), for instance. They can also fade under sunlight.
Polypropylene carpets are famous for their colour-fastness and water-repellent properties. This can make cleaning them, in most situations, a piece of cake. However, they are classed as oleophilic, which results in oily soils and stains being rather hard to remove. Polypropylene carpets are washable and you can clean them professionally by using any wet cleaning technique (e.g. steam cleaning, hot water extraction, pressure washing, etc.). The synthetic material they are made of and its specific structure are the reasons behind their ability to feel soft to the touch and withstand pressure. Still, these sorts of rugs are prone to creasing if not stored correctly.
To maintain their clean look, you should follow a few general cleaning tips.
What you need:
Instructions to clean a polypropylene carpet:
As mentioned above, you can easily deep clean your polypropylene carpets, DIY-style by pressure washing them outdoors. Just make sure to dry it properly before laying it back indoors.
Don’t put your polypropylene rug too close to an open fireplace, as it can easily catch on fire. Remember that even bleach-cleaning methods won’t help you against oil-based stains. Call a professional, instead, and consider applying a carpet protector for easier future maintenance.
Wool carpets and rugs come in all styles and designs. You may have a luxurious wool shag rug or a durable wool short-pile carpet, either way, it’s important to know how to maintain it clean and in top condition. These beautiful natural floor coverings are resistant to fading and are fire-retardant, too. However, they shed (at least, when new) and can be stained easily. Unfortunately, wool carpets are also prone to carpet beetle- and moth-related damage.
But let’s get back to their cleaning maintenance specifics!
What you need:
Instructions to clean a wool carpet:
Steam cleaning and dry cleaning are not recommended methods to use for maintaining your wool rug or carpet. Be aware that both loop pile and cut pile wool rugs can change in appearance (often temporarily), due to vacuum cleaning marks, shift lines, light reflection, the structure of the carpet or generally, in high-traffic areas.
When removing stains, always apply a wool detergent on a cloth rather than directly on the stained area on your carpet. Furthermore, it’s important not to walk over a wet wool carpet.
If you have a jute rug at home, you’ve got yourself a job maintaining it nice and clean. Jute rugs are delicate, can absorb odours very quickly, are prone to developing mould if wet, their fibres can become brittle over time and so on, and so on. Still, they can bring this natural vibe to any interior, especially if matched to a pastel colour scheme with “earthy” hues and tones. If you consider hiring a professional carpet cleaner to spruce up your jute rug, make sure that no wet cleaning methods are applied in the process.
What you need:
Instructions to clean a jute rug:
If you need to deodorise your jute rug, using baking soda for the job is again your best bet.
Never scrub a jute carpet if you don’t wish to damage its delicate structure. It’s good to warn you here that once a jute rug has had it, there is very little you can do and you should think of discarding it or repurposing it.
Sisal rugs are timeless and never go out of fashion. They are durable when the right care and maintenance are applied. These natural-fibre floor coverings are made of the Agave Sisalana plant and are famous for their sound- and moisture-absorbing properties. Talking about the latter, it means that one should not use any wet cleaning methods to keep them fresh-looking and pristine. Also, don’t lay a sisal rug near wet rooms or in damp places. On the other hand, they could be a great and practical addition to any home, located in a region with a humid climate. In such cases, people often consider laying a sisal rug in a room, full of electronic and IT equipment, which are, of course, sensitive to moisture.
To clean a sisal rug, you’ve got a limited choice of materials and tools.
What you need:
Instructions to clean a sisal rug:
As you would vacuum regularly any type of carpeting, sisal rugs need to be vacuum-cleaned often, too. What’s good about sisal rugs is that hard soiling or dust just sits on the woven structure and doesn’t get embedded within the fibres, making it easy to remove with a vacuum cleaner.
To spot-clean your sisal carpet if an accident happens, always apply a dry cleaning detergent or some baking soda after you’ve scooped any solids or blotted the spilt liquid well with a cloth. In really dire situations (pet accidents), you can spray a little vinegar as well, followed by blotting the area and then, drying it straight away with a hairdryer.
Sisal rugs are ideal for households, which enjoy the company of cats. The purry felines simply can’t damage your sisal carpeting with their claws.
Steam cleaning, shampooing, foam and hot water extraction cleaning methods, as mentioned above, will damage your sisal floor covering, so avoid using those at all costs.
Cowhide rugs are not everyone’s cup of tea, even if one understands that the poor animal has not been killed for that sole purpose. Still, some folks just love the luxurious and cosy feel these rugs bring to their home interior. Maintaining them clean doesn’t involve anything out of the ordinary, although you’ll need to keep a couple of things in mind.
What you need:
Instructions to clean a cowhide rug:
You should get into the habit of vacuuming your cowhide rug at least two times per week to keep dust build-up to a minimum. Also, a good plastic brush can help you remove hard particles, pet hair and crumbs, as well as give your rug that fluffy, soft and attractive appearance. In the case of accidents, such as pet misbehaviour or spillages, act straight away!
You can always give your cowhide rug a good shake as an alternative to vacuuming. Always spot clean stains and address spillage mishaps by hand. Airing your rug under the sun for a bit is totally fine, but don’t overdo it to prevent the leather from drying up too much and becoming brittle with cracks.
Never try to machine-wash your cowhide rug and don’t use any dry cleaning chemicals that will definitely cause permanent damage to your investment.
Shag rugs are long-pile floor coverings that can hide well all sorts of debris, dirt and grime. But this doesn’t mean that you should ignore your rug’s regular cleaning maintenance “requirements”. On the contrary, if you don’t want to breathe in all the dust collected within the fibres and put up with its dingy look that will become a sure thing over time, then vacuum your shag carpet regularly. With regards to any professional cleaning techniques, a shag rug can usually handle the use of dry cleaning shampoos, as well as steam cleaning. And to keep your rug clean by yourself, follow our advice below.
What you need:
Instructions to clean a shag rug:
To wash your shag rug, fill your bathtub with warm water and a few drops of carpet shampoo and soak for some time until you see the water turning dirty. Then, rinse well with cold water and squeeze out as much of the moisture as possible. Air-dry well outside. You can also give it a brush with a plastic brush to make your rug fluffier.
Leave the job to the professionals!
And now, let’s explore some of the techniques of how to remove a few common stains from a carpet. You see, different types of stains require different solutions, especially if we are talking about old marks on your precious rug. Of course, the material of the rug also matters, so don’t forget to refer to our specific tips for each type of carpeting above, in order to avoid using something that might cause more harm than good (e.g. sisal rug vs. wet cleaning methods).
Pet accidents happen. Full stop. So, whether you’ve got an elderly dog or small kitty that hasn’t taken potty training into its stride, yet, you may one day discover a pee stain on your beautiful rug. Worry not, though, because we’ll teach you how to clean it up the easy way.
Dry pet urine marks can be treated as described above, however, you may find the job much easier if you add some white vinegar as a mid-step in the stain removal method, i.e. before rinsing the mark with water.
Never mix bleach or bleach-based detergents with ammonia. It’s dangerous!
Coffee stains are common, as almost everyone likes to start the day with a nice cup of fresh coffee that can be spilt accidentally on the carpet.
You can use your favourite carpet stain remover to clean the coffee stain up or make your own solution by mixing 2 cups of lukewarm water, a tablespoon of washing-up liquid and a tablespoon of white vinegar.
If the stain is dry and old, you can always wet it a bit beforehand and then, proceed with applying the stain removal solution. For coffee stains that contain milk and sugar, it’s best to use a quality enzyme cleaner. Just follow the instructions on the product label!
If you have a delicate, natural-fibre rug, stained with coffee, always refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations on how to remove specific stains.
Red wine is another possible culprit behind a ruined floor covering. But don’t despair, as there is a way of removing a red wine stain from a carpet. Let’s see what you can use. Luckily, you probably have everything you’d need for the job at home.
Get yourself some baking soda, dish soap, hydrogen peroxide and a cloth.
You can replace the baking soda with salt if you wish. Also, you can try to remove the wine stain with a store-bought stain removal product.
Beware that hydrogen peroxide has mild bleaching properties, so always test the product on an inconspicuous spot, first, say, under a piece of furniture. The last thing you want is to discolour an area on your carpet during the stain removal process.
Did you know that tea stains are quite similar to coffee stains when it comes to cleaning them up? You see, theine (the active ingredient in tea) and caffeine (the active ingredient in coffee) have the same molecule. So, you can easily apply the same method, as described further up, to address tea stains on your carpet.
If you wish, you can also give the good old baking soda method a go, as well:
Some folks swear by the effectiveness of borax for removing tea stains from carpets and rugs. The recipe goes as follows – 3 parts borax and 1 part warm water should be mixed well to create a paste. With the help of a toothbrush, apply the paste over the stain. Leave it to dry and then, vacuum the soda residue.
Eliminating milky tea stains may require a more advanced approach, like using a stain removal product or enzyme cleaner, both available in your local store.
Ah! That fun birthday party last night! One guest had just a tiny bit too much to drink, right? And the evidence of it has miraculously ended up on your carpet. Yak! Well, not all is lost, so grab some paper towel, a packet of baking soda, distilled white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide and a cloth!
Store-bought enzyme cleaners are also effective for cleaning up vomit from a carpet.
Never mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, because when combined, they produce peracetic acid, which is toxic and can irritate your skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
Leave them to the experienced stain removal professionals!
We’ve already mentioned these natural ingredients but if you want to know a bit more about how to clean a carpet at home without any harsh chemicals, you need not look further than baking soda and vinegar!
This organic solution uses only these two ingredients that you already have at home, so you won’t waste time looking around the shops for the perfect chemical cleaner.
Baking soda and vinegar create a gentle cleaning mixture, suitable for a wide range of materials, as they won’t damage their fibres. They also work on a variety of stains, such as pet stains and grease. Both of those ingredients are great deodorisers, especially baking soda, so they’re perfect for smelly stains. And most importantly, the two substances are both eco- and pet-friendly, so you won’t need to worry about harming your furry friends.
So, let’s learn how to clean a carpet with baking soda and vinegar!
What you need:
Instructions:
And there you have it! An all-natural way to deep clean your carpet! The smell of vinegar should dissipate quickly, but if it’s too strong for you, you can speed up the process by rinsing it with a cloth and some water.
Right then, you know now how to clean specific types of carpeting and how to remove different types of stains from your rug. Anything else you want to know? Yep? We thought so!
Let’s explore some of the most common questions people might have and give you some handy answers to get an even clearer picture of what carpet cleaning entails.
Well, this will depend on various factors but generally, you should deep clean your carpet and rugs at least once a year. You can guess here that hiring a professional for the job is advisable if you want truly effective results. Other than that, vacuum your rugs at least twice a week, give special attention to high-traffic areas, address carpet accidents and spillage mishaps straight away and spot-clean your carpeting whenever necessary.
However, your carpeting could do with a deep clean every six months if the following applies to you:
So, to sum up, deep cleaning your carpets more regularly will improve the indoor quality of air in your home and provide a healthy environment for your family. After all, professional carpet cleaning eliminates all sorts of allergens and germs. It will also prolong the life of your carpet, as well as make it easier to maintain. Last but not least, a clean carpet does wonders for the overall tidy and presentable look of your home interior.
Again, this question doesn’t have a single answer, as different factors play into the price formation of professional carpet cleaning. The condition of the carpeting, the presence of hard-to-remove stains, the size of your rugs, the method used, the need for carpet protection application, as well as where in Australia you live will all be taken into account before you get a quote from a carpet cleaning company.
Other factors may include things like: when or how soon you want the job done (urgently, on a weekend, etc.), how hard is to access certain carpeted areas for the job to be completed, as well as whether you require some extras like cleaning the stairwell or deodorising the rug in your living room.
Just as an idea of how much carpet cleaning costs, you could be looking at paying anything from $75 to $150 for a specialised carpet cleaning service and have 2 or 3 rooms spruced up if you’re located in Melbourne or Sydney, with the latter being in the higher end of the price range.
On the whole, you may feel that you can do things cheaper by say, hiring a steam cleaner at $40 for 24 hours, but trust us, don’t be surprised if you end up with somewhat mediocre results!
A professional carpet cleaning can take anything from 30 minutes to an hour per room, depending on the condition of the floor covering. You see, pre-treating old stains and high-traffic marks, vacuuming and then, using a professional hot water extraction or dry cleaning equipment simply takes time. Then, add the application of carpet protection (if you’ve requested it) and you get the picture. In other words, if you live in a fully carpeted 3-bedroom house, expect the job to take a good 2 and a half to 3 hours if done properly and with attention to detail.
Well, it pretty much depends on the material the rug has been made of, the exact type of technique that has been used and some other factors that you can learn about here. For instance, a hot water extraction machine is designed to extract almost all the moisture used in the cleaning process, which means that a standard synthetic carpet could be dry within 3 to 6 hours. Add an open window or a turned-on fan or heater to this scenario and you’ll be walking back on your completely dry rug even sooner.
Of course, a wool shag rug may take ages to dry, whereas a cowhide rug that’s been dry cleaned can be in use again straight away. Note that you may notice a lingering smell after your rug has been steam cleaned, but worry not, because the odour will soon disappear, once the carpeting dries out completely.
Although the names of these carpet cleaning methods are in a way self-explanatory as to what is used in the process (hot water or dry cleaning agent), it’s good to explain a little bit more here about what they are and when they can be used.
The dry carpet cleaning method involves the use of dry cleaning detergent and usually, a bonnet cleaning machine (other types of equipment can be also used). The machine disperses the dry chemical agent, agitates the carpet fibre via a pad and then, removes the surface dirt along with most of the detergent. Bonnet carpet cleaning can also involve liquid encapsulation, which is the most effective technique out of the two. This carpet cleaning method is suitable for delicate materials that do not tolerate water and can certainly save you time when drying is an issue.
People use the two terms above interchangeably but the hot water extraction cleaning method doesn’t actually use steam. The equipment injects hot water, mixed with a small amount of detergent under high pressure into the carpet fibres. Then, the machine extracts almost all the moisture together with the dislodged dirt. One of the biggest pros of this method is its effectiveness in removing deeply embedded grime, especially when your carpets are constantly exposed to foot traffic.
All the pros and cons for both professional carpet cleaning methods, as well as when to use both of these methods can be out in our Dry vs. Steam Cleaning Guide.
Our advice is to always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions or a professional cleaner’s opinion, so you know what’s the best cleaning method for your carpeting.
Get assistance from expert carpet cleaners in your area!
What do you think about our carpet cleaning guide? Did you find it helpful? Please, comment below!
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